Removable covering for building walls



Sept. 14, 1943:;

T. H. SHUTTLEWORTH 2,329,561 REMOVABLE COVERING FOR BUILDING WALLS FiledNov. 19, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 7 FIG 1 z 57 58 Sept. 14, 1943. T. H.SHUTTLEWORTH Y REMOVABLE COVERING FOR BUILDING WALLS 2 Shets-Sheet 2Filed Nov. 19, 1941 m m W m w & W H a m% H m W Q3 w Patented Sept. 14,1.943

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I aniuovamuoo vizggzron Borzoi-No Thomas H.Shuttloworth, Pocantioo Hills, N. Y.,

assignmto PIC Housing Corporation, New lurk, N. Y., a oomoration of OhioApplication November 19, 1941, ,Serial No. 419,756

This invention relates to an improvcdwall construcillon, havingparticular reference to a wall construction adapted for residential andother buildings wherein the component parts are of prefabricated designand capable of convenient and economical assembly.

An object of the invention resides in the provision of a wallconstruction composed of prefabricated parts and which shall be strongand substantial when in assembled order, possessing an attractive andinviting appearancel It is another objectof the invention to provideimproved means in association with the wall construction to facilitatethe application to the internal surf-aces thereof of flexible sheets ofa decorative wall covering, the mea'nsheing of the readily operated,purely mechanical type, so that such wall covering ma be tautly appliedto a wall surface in a quick and facile manner.

For a further understanding of the invention, reference is to be had tothe following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1is a view partly in vertical section'and perspective, disclosing theimproved wall construction forming the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the'wall construction,the figure being'broken in the center to enable the pants to beillustrated on a larger scale;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the wall construction,the base molding and the ceiiing mold being, in'part, removed todisclose underlying structure 4 is a horizontal sectional view takenthrough a corner of the wall construction adjacent to the ceiling; g i

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the metallic securingstrips for applying tension to the wall covering employed in the ceilingFig. 6 is a similar view disclosing the securing strip for anchoring theupper'edgeof a wall covering sheet employed in connection with the sidewalls of a room. I

In prefabricated buildings, particularly those adapted for residentialservice, it has been-customary to employ various types ofpanels in theinterior finish of rooms. "These panels are formed from variousmaterials, such as wood, pressed boarder plastics. While such walls arequite satisfactory from a standpoint of utility, they, nevertheless,depart from a conventional internal wall In appearance, and tend to typethe building as being composed of prefabricated parts.

While it is possible in many of these wall con atructions to applyconventional wallpaper, such 55 an operation requires the employment ofconsiderable labor on the building site and delays the rapidcompletionof the building.

In the wall construction forming the present invention, the internalroom surfaces are covered with flexible sheets simulating the appearanceof adhesively mounted wall paper, but the wall sheets .are held inposition' by means of mechanical appliances whichare so arranged as tomaintain the sheets in astretched and tautcondition. In connection withthese appliances, a molding is utilized at the floor and ceiling of aroom so that the appliances will be concealed from view.

In the drawings, the numeral I designates the flooring of a building andthe numeral 2, the vertical frame or stud members. Arranged .on theflooring I is .a wall panel block 3, the latter having its upper portionlongitudinally grooved as at I. Seated in these groovesare the loweredges of vertical wall panels i, which latter may be of any suitablecomposition, although we have found pressedplywood to be entirelysatisfactory. These pan'elsare supported by the block 3 and,additionally, are united with the studs 2 by means of screws, asindicated at 6. The upper edges of the'panels are positioned withingrooves 'I provided in a ceiling mold 8, the latter being suitablyengaged with the studs 2 after being positioned over the upper edges ofthe panels 5.

The internal room surfaces of the panels -5 are covered with flexiblesheets 9 of a decorative character. These sheets are preferably of awashable fabric although, if desired, they may be formed from paper of afairly heavy grade. To secure the sheets 8 in their operative positionswithout the use of conventional adhesives, there is positioned on theupper edges of the panels 5 and within the grooves 1 of the mold 8,metallic strips of the type indicated at W. Each of these stripscomprises a horizontally disposed, longitudinally extending web H, thelatter terminating along one of its longitudinal edges in a dependingperpendicularly disposed flange 12, while the opposite edge of the web II terminates in a beaded or rolled flange 13 disposed above said web.The upper edge of the sheet 8 is wrapped around a cord I4 and theninserted into the rolled flange 13 of the strip ID. This enables saidstrip to grip the upper edge of the same in a secure manner, preventingthe sheet from b coming disengaged therewith when the sheet is placedunder tension.

Such tensioning is" accomplished by providing the lower edge of eachsheet with a metallic strip of the type disclosed at 15. The latter isformed rality of base clips 20. These clips are channel shaped, asindicated at 2!, to embrace the lower edge portions of the panels 5;Each clip atits upper end is provided with an outturned flange 22 havingan aperture formed therein for the reception of the threaded shank of atensioning bolt 23. The threaded shank of the bolt is received within anut 24 which engages with the under surface of the flange 22, each ofthe bolts being provided with a head 25. To unite the strips IS with thebolts 23, the. present invention utilizes a plurality of metallic straps26. Each of these straps is formed with a' web 2?, terminating at itslower end in an outturned apertured flange 28, the aperture of thisflange being received in the shank of a bolt 23 with the head of thebolt in engagement with the upper surface of said flange 28. The upperportion of each of the webs 21 terminates in a downwardly inclined lip29, the latter having engagement with the lip IQ of the strip l5, asshown more particularly in Fig. 2. .Itwill be seen that by tighteningthe nuts 24, tensioning forces will be applied to the flexible wallcovering, causing the latter to be firmly stretched over the innersurfaces of the wall panels 5. The operation is entirely mechanical andmay be quickly carried out without the employment of expert labor.

A similar construction is employedin forming the ceiling. Thus, there isutilized a flexible ceiling sheet 30, corresponding to the side wallsheets 9. Thegedges of the sheet at carry a cord 3| which, as in thecase of the sheet or sheets 9, may be positioned in a hem formed in theedges of the sheet 30. Each of the rods 3! is then positioned in therolled edges 32 of a plurality of metallic fastening strips 33. Theinner edges of the strips 33 are formed with reversely bent lips 34, thelatter being engaged with flanges 35 of adjustable mounting brackets 36.These brackets are slidably positioned on the upper surfaces of the mold8 at spaced longitudinal intervals. The vertical web of the brackets 35are formed with openings for the reception of tension-applying headedbolts 31. Thethreaded shanks of these bolts pass through openingsprovided in metallic securing straps 38. These straps are formed toprovide slotted ends 39, which receive horizontally disposed stationarypins 40, carried by the studs 2. By rotating the bolts 31, or bytightening the wing nuts or the like 4! carried by said bolts, and whichcooperate with straps 38, the brackets 35 may be moved in.

order to apply the desired degree of tension to the ceiling sheet 39,stretching the latter suificiently so that it will assume a tautcondition beneath and in spaced relation from superposed floor joists42.- The tightening mechanism for the sheet 38 is concealed by means ofa yieldable molding 43, which is positioned in the space formed betweenthe upper surfaces of the mold 8 and the sheet 38. .The molding 43 maybe composed of twisted rope or yarn, which presents the appearancedisclosed in Fig. 1 when externally viewed.

Likewise, the mechanism for tightening the side wall sheets may besimilarly concealed. This is preferably accomplished by means of thebase mold shown at 44 and the cove strip 45.

provides an interior wall construction for buildings of theprefabricated type which is economical to manufacture, simple to installor erect and of attractive appearance. The construction disclosedenables the decorative wall covering sheets to be removed wheneverdesired and other sheets substituted therefor. Further, the constructionlends itself to the rapid asssembly of prefabricated buildings andavoids the necessity of employing highly skilled artisans in producinginterior walls of desired finish and appearance.

I claim: 7

1. In interior building construction, a wall structure comprising baseand ceiling members formed with registering longitudinally extendinggrooves, wall panels having their upper and lower edges positioned insaid grooves and supported by said members-,a removable flexible sheetfor covering the inner surfaces of said panels, a rigid strip positionedin the grooveof said ceiling member, means for detachably and directlyconnecting the upper edges of said sheet to said strip, a second rigidstrip detachablyand directly engagediwith the lower-edges of said sheet,anchoring clips positioned in the groove of said base member, andthreaded means coacting with the second of said strips and said clipsfor placing said sheet under tension.

2. In interior building construction, a wall structure comprisingbaseand ceiling members formed with registering longitudinally extendinggrooves, wall panels having their upper and lower edges positioned insaid grooves and supported by said members, a removable flexible sheetfor covering the inner surfaces of said panels, a rigid strip positionedin the groove of said ceiling member, means for detachably and directlyconnecting the upper edges of said sheet to said strip, a second rigidstrip detachably and directly engaged with thelower edges of said sheet,anchoring clips positioned in the groove of said base member, threadedmeans coacting with g the second of said strips and said clips forplacing said sheet under tension, and a base mold having engagement withsaid base member and said sheet for concealing said second strip, clipsand threaded adjusting means;

3. In interior building construction, parallel base and ceiling membersand vertically disposed frame studs, said base and ceiling membershaving registering grooves formed therein, vertical wall panels havingtheir upper and lower edges positioned in said grooves and secured tosaid studs, a flexible covering for theinner surfaces of said panels,rigid gripping'devices removably mounted in the groove of saidceilingmember connected directly with the upper edge portions of said covering,anchoring devices positioned in the groove of said base member, saidanchoring tions of said covering for placing the latter under tensloningforces.

4. In interior building construction, vertically disposed studs,anchoring pins disposed laterally of said studs, a horizontally disposedceiling molding projecting laterally and inwardly from said studs,anchoring clips engaged with the pins of said studs, a flexible ceilingsheet, rigid gripping devices engaged directly with the edge portions ofsaid sheet, and threaded means coacting with said gripping devices andsaid clips to place said sheet under tensioning forces.

5. In interior building construction, vertically disposed studs,anchoring pins disposed laterally of said studs, a horizontally disposedceiling molding projecting laterally and inwardly from said studs,anchoring clips engaged with the pins of said studs, a flexible ceilingsheet, gripping devices engaged with the edge portions of said sheet,threaded means coacting with said gripping devices and said clips toplace said sheet under tensionlng forces, and a flexible moldingremovably mounted between the upper surface of said ceiling molding andsaid sheet.

THOMAS H. SHUTTLEWORTH.

